Image courtesy of She Breathes
Victoria Spruce's Graduate Showcase at Vauxhall Fashion Scout
Victoria Spruce MA Exhibition
Victoria Spruce Lookbook
Victoria Spruce featured in Vogue Italia
As soon as the VFS blog team heard the news that our graduate showcase designer Victoria Spruce was one of the finalists for International Talent Support (ITS) 2012, we knew we had to talk to her.
ITS is an international platform which specialises in students who are emerging talents in the world of fashion, accessories and jewellery. ITS, which is in it's eleventh year, will take place in Trieste, Italy on July 13-14th. Footwear designer and RCA graduate Victoria Spruce is one of nine accessories finalists who are competing for two accessory awards.
The prizes are nothing short of career changing; the winner of 'Accessories Collection of the Year' wins €8,000 towards the creation of a new accessories collection (with an exhibition in September 2012's ModAmount show and an exhibition again in 2013), meanwhile, the winner of the 'YKK Award' will receive €10,000. When the jury for the Accessories finalists includes Vogue Italia's Accessory Editor Elisabetta Barracchia and head of Christian Dior Haute Couture Accessories Isabella Zegrini, you know you're on the path to success.
Editor Cass Gowing caught up with Victoria following the announcement...
Vauxhall Fashion Scout: Congratulations on being a finalist for ITS 2012. When did you find out the good news?
Victoria Spruce: Thank you! I found out a few weeks ago so have since been planning the YKK project that I also need to complete as part of the competition.
VFS: What does this opportunity mean to you?
VS: It means a hell of lot to be selected as a finalist and boosts my belief in my own work - other people like it too! I think it's a great opportunity to gain further exposure on an international level and I feel incredibly lucky to be one of the few finalists. I can't wait to get to Trieste and show my collection to the judges!
VFS: What have you been up to since we saw you at our graduate showcase?
VS: I have been working away at developing the collection for production.I've been finalising how they will be made and what they will be made of - but there's still a little way to go before I can start to sell them. Unfortunately because they are made with plastics in twists and turns everything is taking just that little bit longer to perfect and take forward. I will get there soon though!
VFS: What else is planned for your label 2012?
VS: All my focus is aimed at finding the right factory and getting them into production. My shoes have received so much press attention I now just need to get them on people's feet!
Don't miss Victoria's feature in Vogue Italia. We wish you the best of luck for the competition; we can't wait to hear the results!
Interview by Editor, Cass Gowing.
Follow her on Twitter: @CassGowing